How to Say Kiss in German - With Feeling

From romantic scenes to casual greetings, the word kiss in German is short, strong, and packed with emotion. It’s a key noun that you’ll come across in real life, pop culture, and even texts between friends.

The word is Kuss - pronounced /kʊs/, with the short vowel in English “put” and a final /s/. It does not rhyme with “moose.”

Kuss is masculine, so it’s der Kuss. The plural is die Küsse. Not sure how gender works? My gender video lesson makes it fast and easy to understand.

Kuss is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it shows up in everyday life far more than you’d expect.

Examples in all four cases:

Nominative:Der Kuss war kurz, aber bedeutungsvoll.The kiss was short, but meaningful.

Accusative:Er gab ihr einen Kuss auf die Stirn.He gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Dative:Mit einem Kuss hat sie sich verabschiedet.She said goodbye with a kiss.

Genitive:Die Wärme des Kusses hat sie noch lange gespürt.She felt the warmth of the kiss for a long time.

Real-World Tips for Learners

Kuss is common in everyday German - not just in movies and romance, but also in friendly expressions and greetings. Some typical combinations include:

• ein Kuss auf die Wange - a kiss on the cheek

• ein letzter Kuss - a final kiss

• ein zärtlicher Kuss - a tender kiss

• Kuss, deine Maria - “Love, Maria” (used in texts or letters)

People often end texts or messages with just:Kuss! or Küsse!Like “xoxo” or “Love ya!” In southern Germany and Austria you’ll also hear the cute Bussi.